C21 Top Ten

"I was wrong, truly wrong!"

At that moment, Ah Tu was in a state of utter panic. Judging by the situation at hand, he felt as though he was being compelled to sell salted duck eggs on a whim—a prospect he certainly didn't relish!

Ye Qinghui withdrew his knife and strode toward the Jade Garden.

He presented the small gift to Xiang. As for Ah Tu, Ye Qinghui didn't even consider sparing him a second glance.

And just like that, he was gone!

Just walked away!

Look at that—Ye Qinghui left his haughty silhouette in his wake.

Ah Tu's hands clenched into fists, creaking with tension. The other man was infuriating.

It was as if he was deliberately trying to provoke anger.

This was outright disrespectful.

The Firestriders were hosting their annual provincial competition, a contest to determine whose achievements were the most extraordinary.

Naturally, this was a rivalry among disciples.

Chen Laoda and his brother had always alternated as champions.

Chen Laosan was usually out of the running, never even taking on a disciple.

This year, however, Chen Laosan had taken on a disciple, yet it still seemed inconsequential.

The disciples of the elder brothers had been training for years, their combat strength honed through persistent cultivation—certainly not something to be underestimated. How could Ye Qinghui possibly catch up? It was out of the question.

But then, Chen Laosan went ahead and signed Ye Qinghui up for the competition.

He registered Ye Qinghui without his consent.

Upon his return, Ye Qinghui found the martial arts tournament already underway.

It was a bustling scene indeed. Well, it was entertaining to watch the spectacle, no rush in seeking out his foolish master.

Last time, he was duped by his master. This time, Ye Qinghui still suspected Chen Laosan had a hand in it. The latter must have anticipated Ah Tu's actions. Chen Laosan's actions might seem innocuous, but he was actually incredibly shrewd.

It was all a set-up!

Ye Qinghui had come to realize that the most dangerous person to provoke was the seemingly harmless Chen Laosan.

Now, the current match had concluded.

"The next match: Ye Qinghui versus President Zhang!"

All eyes instantly turned to Ye Qinghui.

President Zhang was already on the stage, his gaze fixed intently on Ye Qinghui.

Why was Ye Qinghui involved in this matter?

Ye Qinghui had no clue what the competition was about.

What was the competition even for?

He was utterly bewildered.

There had to be a Master's hand in this. It was related to the Master, wasn't it?

Had he been duped by his Master once more?

It was certainly the case. It was all the Master's doing.

Oh, this is just maddening!

"Are you scared of dying? Scared I might kill you? If you're scared, then really, just don't bother stepping up here. Concede and it's all over!"

Chief Zhang stared down Ye Qinghui.

With everyone watching, Chief Zhang showed no inclination to spare his opponent any dignity.

With a swift motion, he sprang into action!

Ye Qinghui stepped forward.

"I heard you can't even hold a knife properly. I'm truly curious. In a knife and sword duel, what's someone like you, who can't even grip a knife, doing here? Did you just come to strike a pose before admitting defeat?"

Chief Zhang eyed Ye Qinghui with a questioning gaze.

Ye Qinghui's right hand clenched the knife's hilt at his waist before drawing the blade.

"Wow, you've got a firm grip there. Very steady. You can actually hold onto the hilt tightly. You've got some fight in you. This is beyond what I expected. Not bad at all, really!"

Chief Zhang gave Ye Qinghui an approving thumbs up.

Ye Qinghui's gaze grew icier. This damned fool had no idea that he was flirting with disaster, provoking him time and again without any consideration for his capabilities, right?

Alright, that's how it is!

Given his opponent's attitude, it seemed impossible to show any mercy.

Clang! Clang!

Chief Zhang unsheathed his twin blades.

With a flourish, he began to wield them.

Yet, there was no sign he intended to strike.

At that moment, Chief Zhang's gaze fell upon Ye Qinghui with a detached air.

He didn't seem to take Ye Qinghui seriously at all. It was as simple as that!

Ye Qinghui shook his head in response. A fight was a fight, a contest was a contest. Why bother with all these unnecessary theatrics?

The first strike of the Life-Threatening Three Blades.

Whoosh!

Ye Qinghui sprang into action.

Incredibly fast!

He shot out like a streak of light.

In a mere moment, Chief Zhang was overwhelmed by immense pressure. He swiftly maneuvered his twin blades, constructing an impenetrable defense.

Clang!

Chief Zhang managed to fend off the first assault.

It was fraught with peril, yet he withstood it.

Clang!

The second onslaught arrived. Had Chief Zhang's blade not been positioned in front of his chest, the consequences would have been dire.

His execution was precise, swift, and ruthless, far beyond a mere ordinary strike.

The third attack unfolded, aimed directly at Chief Zhang's throat.

The third strike of the Life-Threatening Three Blades targeted the throat, epitomizing the pinnacle of precision and ferocity.

At that moment, Chief Zhang swallowed hard, realizing that with just a bit more force, his opponent could inflict horrific injuries in the blink of an eye. He understood that there was nothing his adversary couldn't do, recognizing that this was no ordinary foe, but rather a tough nut to crack.

This was a real challenge!

What to do?

Concede defeat?

If not, he would have to endure further.

But could he withstand it?

The crux of the matter was that enduring was simply not an option.

Thus, conceding defeat was the only choice!

It was crucial not to let things escalate to an irreversible point. The mere thought was maddening.

"I'm very disappointed in you, truly!"

"I know!"

Chief Zhang did his utmost to avoid aggravating his opponent.

"Have you conceded?"

Ye Qinghui inquired.

Chief Zhang nodded.

It was clear to all that he was outmatched.

Regardless of whether he conceded or not, he had been bested!

Acknowledging defeat was the honorable thing to do, the mark of a true man.

The competition moved on to the next round.

Ye Qinghui fought valiantly, advancing to the top ten.

It appeared he had an excellent chance of claiming victory.